Ahmad Al-Khatat was born in Baghdad, Iraq. His work has appeared in print and online journals globally. He has poems translated into several languages such as Farsi, Chinses, Spanish, Albanian, Romanian. He has published some poetry chapbooks, and a collection of short stories. He has been nominated for Best of the Net 2019 and was also nominated for the Pushcart Price 2020.

Brightness

When the moon misses its brightness 
I feel lonely as a forgotten painting in the gallery at dusk

Do you remember the moments we sipped the sun wine?
I absorb the biological colours of the rainbow

Then splash them above the grey clouds of autumn.
More birds would rise into the blue of her eyes, 

They attacked my birthplace and crushed my heart in their infirmary.
I lost my hand and since then I became an alcoholic 

Who prays after drinking whiskey from a homesick teacup?
Sad! 
Why so!! 
Don't be!!! 
My neighbour doesn't seem 
informed of the coffin I'm carrying since I accepted your friendship...

Aggressive Insomnia

The night appears beautifully decorated 
with a moon surrounding the glowing stars 
My mind expects to jump into another battle 
With thoughts beneath the dust of a blade.

I rest my body and forcefully close my eyes, 
Endless nightmares hold my throat and breathe
The muscles numb from all empty-handed
My mouth refuses to yell at the dark cloud.

Aggressive insomnia doesn't understand the 
meaning of morning rain or gleaming snow.
Today's world could not reach out to my love
If I wrongly survive then I'd force myself to drink.

What should I hold to sleep in consensus?
The sun has died in my world of difference
I chose to smoke over unnecessary friendship
I successfully hid your corpse but failed to find my own.